The park is on city-owned land. Environmental Action Bobcaygeon Inc. has been granted stewardship and the OTF has provided an $87,800 grant.

It will be called Wilderness Park and is located in the northeast of Bobcaygeon, just past Caygeon Lanes at the end of Wilderness Park Rd.

“We approached the city and said we’re an environmental group that would like to put hiking and walking trails in there,” said spokesman Richard Fedy.

They are contemplating one trail near the perimeter and a couple of interior trails with some disabled accessibility so even people in wheelchairs can enjoy the forest. They said there would be a mix of easier and more challenging trails.

They are also keen to combine education and recreation, getting a helping hand from environmental study students at Sir Sanford Fleming College and Trent University and hope local schools will make use of it.

A parking area is being established as well as a bee pollinator in conjunction with the Bobcaygeon Horticultural Society. The goal is to finish the park this summer, with construction commencing in July.

Another spokesman, John Bush, said the Kawartha Field Naturalist Club has volunteered its time to do a biophysical inventory “so we’re not running over sensitive plants and habitat.” They have also had a survey completed.

Fedy added that there are already about 60 members of ‘the Friends of the Wilderness Park’ who have donated money and committed time, including hauling out truckloads of garbage last summer.

Environmental Action Bobcaygeon Inc. is the group behind the placement of nine community gardens and the Bobcaygeon Farmers Market.